ISTANBUL, Nov 7 (Hina) - Wrapping up negotiations with the European Union by mid-2001 will be the test of the Croatian government's success, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Turkey on Tuesday.
ISTANBUL, Nov 7 (Hina) - Wrapping up negotiations with the European
Union by mid-2001 will be the test of the Croatian government's
success, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Turkey on Tuesday.#L#
Speaking about government steps aimed at boosting economy and
attracting foreign investment, Racan told representatives of
Turkey's committee on international economic relations DEIK the
Nov. 24 Zagreb Summit would mark the official beginning of Croatia-
EU negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Racan is hopeful the negotiations will be successfully completed in
the first half of next year.
Asked by reporters how realistic his estimate was, the prime
minister said it was going to be "the test of the Croatian
government's success."
"I'm a big optimist. What I have just declared has to be the test of
the Croatian government's success," stressed Racan.
"The Croatian government will be successful if the negotiations
wrap up in the first half of next year. This is a promise," he said on
the last day of his visit to Istanbul.
Negotiations with the EU are also a precondition for launching
negotiations on free trade with Turkey, which he initiated during
the visit. Turkey's response was positive and negotiations might
begin in December. A free trade agreement would strongly influence
the expansion of the currently modest economic cooperation and
trade.
(hina) ha